IN the annual derby golf match Northumberland thrashed Durham at Hexham by 12.5 matches to 5.5 and left Durham languishing at the foot of the Northern Counties League without winning one match, writes Chris Robinson.
In the foursomes Northumberland took an unassailable lead, being unbeaten by 4.5 matches to 1.5.
In the singles, the main focus was on the top match between the respective county champions 21-year-old Chris Paisley (Stocksfield) and 34-year-old Da
vid Patterson (Seaham).
Paisley first came to the fore in senior county golf when at only 17, he was runner-up in the Northumberland County Championship at Alnmouth to clubmate Chris McDonnell.
At Hexham he drew first blood when he hit his drive at the par-five first 40 yards past Patterson. Nevertheless, the Durham player found the green in two and holed out for his birdie. Paisley also was on in two but he rolled in his putt for an eagle!
This set the pattern for the match and it was neck and neck all the way. It was unlucky for Paisley at the 144-yard 13th as Patterson got a fine birdie two and went ahead for the first time.
Paisley won the long 15th but Patterson regained the lead following a 25-foot birdie putt at the short 16th.
One down on the 18th Paisley unleashed his tee shot attempting to reach the green at 344 yards.
However, he pulled into the trees, and miraculously the ball came out and landed just short of the practice putting green, but still in bounds. He had a clear shot to the green, chipped to eight feet and rolled in his birdie putt. Patterson, in the right hand rough, bunkered his second shot, and splashed out for a bogey five, and the match finished all-square.
Nineteen-year-old James Curry, the 2005 and 2006 Northumberland Junior Golfing Association Player of the Year, had a mixed day. In the foursomes he partnered fellow 19-year-old Mark Penny (Morpeth) and they convincingly beat A Bates (Blackwell Grange) and L McCavanagh (Woodham) by 4 and 3.
In the singles, Curry was beaten 3 and 2 by B Ross (Heworth) while Penny beat Bates by 2 and 1.
Mark's 21-year-old brother Craig partnered namesake, and fellow 21-year-old, Craig Wilkinson (Blyth) in the foursomes and they halved their match against S Dance (Ramside Hall) and J Birbeck (Bishop Auckland). In the singles Penny beat McCavanagh by one hole.
Paisley, who has returned to the University of Tennessee to continue with the second part of his four-year course, has had a superb vacation as he won the Northumberland County Championship for the first time, and became the first amateur to win a Northern PGA event in the Rock Trophy at Matfen Hall.
Although only 21, he has been at the forefront of both junior and senior county golf for several years.
After a further two years in the States, he looks set to join the paid ranks to challenge Messrs Kenneth Ferrie and Graeme Storm on the European Tour. If the Rock Tournament is anything to go by, he is more than challenging the professionals now!
